It’s no secret that J.K. Rowling was rejected by numerous publishers before one of them decided to accept Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. That was also the case for one of her first post-Potter books, The Cuckoo’s Calling.
Remember: When J.K. Rowling shopped around The Cuckoo’s Calling, the first book in her Cormoran Strike series, she operated under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith so she could enjoy the experience of being an unknown author again.
Her secret identity ended up being revealed (by a jerk who leaked it) in July 2013, but by that time The Cuckoo’s Calling had already been sitting on store shelves.
On Friday morning Jo shared a couple of the rejection letters “Robert Galbraith” received when “he” was shopping around Cuckoo’s Calling. They’re fun to read because these letters are rejecting J.K. freakin’ Rowling — and the publishers have no idea.
“Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to consider your novel, which we have looked at with interest,” reads one. “However, I regret that we have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we could not publish it with commercial success.”
“We are unable to accept new submissions at the moment,” reads another. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. Thank you again for thinking of us.”
By popular request, 2 of @RGalbrath's rejection letters! (For inspiration, not revenge, so I've removed signatures.) pic.twitter.com/vVoc0x6r8W
Article Continues Below— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2016
Rowling also shared some inspiring messages for budding writers who are dealing with rejection:
@jk_rowling What kept you motivated? Did you ever just feel like giving up at some point?
— safa (@givemhelldarlin) March 25, 2016
I wasn't going to give up until every single publisher turned me down, but I often feared that would happen. https://t.co/bMKu4zJ3nm
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2016
Not getting down… because this WILL happen. This is just the beginning. @jk_rowling got rejected, I will too! #ItsAllGood #AmWriting
— Dianne Brubaker (@diannebee) March 25, 2016
I pinned my 1st rejection letter to my kitchen wall because it gave me something in common with all my fave writers! https://t.co/ZmGNWDdF7x
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2016
@jk_rowling how do I get the courage to risk it all for the things that I love when I don't have enough of a support system if all fails?
— Auradel Ma. Cirille (@TheAuradel) March 25, 2016
I had nothing to lose and sometimes that makes you brave enough to try. https://t.co/ETEk8lcih1
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2016
Jo also shared this amusing fact:
. @jk_rowling were any of them the same people that turned down Harry? Did any of them make the same mistake twice? https://t.co/xNLrvSIBj0
— Joshua Cunningham ϟ (@PhotoOomph) March 25, 2016
Yes, the publisher who first turned down Harry also sent @RGalbraith his rudest rejection (by email)! https://t.co/22Jwf2u8hy
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2016
We want to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Write a comment below or submit an article to Hypable.